Joe Viechnicki, KFSK - Petersburg
Joe Viechnicki is a reporter at KFSK in Petersburg.
Alaska Legislature passes pharmacy bill
Alaska pharmacists celebrated the passage of a bill making changes to prescription drug benefits and how businesses are reimbursed for that medication. House Bill 240 was opposed by health insurers and the companies they hire to oversee pharmacy drug sales. Listen now
Alaska Senate passes Stedman’s sea otter resolution
The Alaska Senate passed a resolution Wednesday calling on the federal government to take steps to increase the harvest of sea otters in Southeast Alaska. Senate Joint Resolution 13 is sponsored by Sitka Republican senator Bert Stedman. Listen now
Ferry Columbia out for repairs at least one week
If repairs are successful, the Columbia would next head north from Bellingham on Jan. 26 with service to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau, Haines and Skagway. Listen now
Shellfish first, finfish second at Sitka meeting of Board of Fish
Changes to fisheries for crab, shrimp and other shellfish will be first on the agenda for a meeting of the Board of Fish in Sitka in January. Listen now
Governor signs Petersburg land bill
A major increase to the land granted to the new Petersburg borough is now official. Governor Bill Walker Thursday signed legislation granting over 14-thousand acres of state land to the local government. Listen now
State road striping gets messy in Petersburg
Motorists are complaining about the state of Alaska’s road painting job this week, with bright yellow line paint smeared along several state roads. The paint has also stained some vehicles and spread in yellow footprints and tire tracks.
State denies ballot initiative on salmon habitat
Alaska’s Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott has denied a proposed ballot initiative designed to offer greater protections for salmon habitat from mining or other development. Listen now
Electronic monitoring available for smaller fishing boats
The National Marine Fisheries has published a final rule allowing use of electronic monitoring instead of an on-board human observer for smaller longline and pot gear fishing vessels.
Propeller problems postpone ferry Columbia’s return
The largest vessel in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet will be late to return to service this summer. Listen now
Southeast Alaska spring troll fishery shut down for lack of king salmon
The spring season for commercial salmon trolling in Southeast Alaska is shutting down Monday, May 29 except for a few areas near hatchery salmon release sites. The spring season began in May and was to run through the end of June. However, poor returns of king salmon are prompting the closure. Listen now
Senate passes Petersburg land grant bill
Legislation to increase the Petersburg Borough’s land grant from the state passed the Alaska Senate on Monday (April 10). The bill would transfer more than 14,000 acres to the new borough, which hopes to develop or sell off some of the property. Listen now
Commercial longline seasons to open on time
Commercial longliners in Alaska can go fishing on March 11 after all. The National Marine Fisheries Service announced Friday (March 3) that March 11th will be the start date for halibut and black cod fishing. Listen now
Whale Pass vote certified, voters OK new city on Prince of Wales Island
The results are final and residents of Whale Pass have approved the incorporation of Alaska’s newest second class city. The small community on Prince of Wales Island voted this winter on forming a new city government. Residents also elected seven people to a new Whale Pass city council. Listen now
Restoring Ohmer Creek
The U.S. Forest Service is moving forward with a project to restore a stream damaged by decades-old logging and road-building south of Petersburg. The work will likely mean logging some other trees on another part of the island, and that’s generated some opposition.
Petersburg schools open with an increase in enrollment
Students headed back to class Monday, August 29, in Petersburg as the new school year gets underway.
Petersburg schools testing down due to Kansas cable debacle
Petersburg middle and high schoolers are back taking mandated-state tests Thursday, March 31 after a cable-break in Kansas knocked out testing statewide Tuesday morning. Students in in grades six through 10 were part-way through completing the math portion of the test when the interruption happened. Officials think the students answers were recorded and not lost. Download Audio
Animal traps in Southeast and Tok no longer need identification
Alaska’s Board of Game voted to remove a requirement that animal traps have some kind of identification in Southeast Alaska and the Tok region. The Board met on statewide proposals to change hunting and trapping regulations last week in Fairbanks.
Southeast Alaska crabbing seasons start Wednesday
Two crab fisheries in Southeast Alaska started up Wednesday, February 17. Fishing for Tanner crab and golden king crab opened at noon.
Petersburg inmate caught by police
Petersburg Police have apprehended an inmate who escaped from the Petersburg jail Friday morning. Police chief Kelly Swihart says officers arrested 22-year-old Jacob Sturgeon of Petersburg just before 4 p.m. on Friday in a shed behind a home on Lumber Street near downtown Petersburg.
Search on for escaped inmate in Petersburg
Petersburg police are searching for an inmate who escaped from the Petersburg jail Friday morning. Police reported the escape of 22-year-old Jacob Sturgeon of Petersburg just before 11 a.m. on Friday. He reportedly removed his shirt and shoes while running past the borough’s public works shop on South Second Street. Sturgeon was described as 5 foot nine inches, 180 pounds with brown hair.